News & Events

BHI Promotes National Kidney Month, World Kidney Day

February 6, 2012

Hearing loss commonly coexists with chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic renal failure, and other kidney diseases. In an effort to encourage people with CKD and other diseases of the kidney to make hearing checks a routine part of their medical care, the Better Hearing Institute is participating this year in National Kidney Month in March and World Kidney Day on March 8th.

As published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, and highlighted on the National Kidney Foundation web site, a team of Australian researchers found that older adults with moderate chronic kidney disease have a higher prevalence of hearing loss than those of the same age without CKD.

These research findings, along with other documented studies, underscore the importance of making hearing checks a routine part of the medical care of people with kidney disease. We hope that by participating in National Kidney Month and World Kidney Day we will raise awareness of the link between hearing and kidney health. We believe that if more people with CKD get earlier and more frequent hearing tests, their hearing loss can be addressed and their quality of life improved.

 

 

Association between Alzheimer’s Disease and Hearing Health Highlighted by BHI for World Alzheimer’s Day- Better Hearing Institute

Washington, DC, September 19, 2011 –In recognition of World Alzheimer’s Day, which is recognized around the globe each year on September 21, the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is raising awareness of the association between hearing health and Alzheimer’s disease and is underscoring the importance of addressing hearing loss for the benefit of overall cognitive function.
According to a study published in the Archives of Neurology, older adults with hearing loss appear more likely to develop dementia, and their risk increases as hearing loss becomes more severe. The researchers found that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease specifically increased with hearing loss. For every 10 decibels of hearing loss, the extra risk of developing Alzheimer’s increased by 20 percent.
“There is strong evidence that hearing impairment contributes to the progression of cognitive dysfunction in older adults,” says Sergei Kochkin, PhD, BHI’s Executive Director. “Unmanaged hearing loss can interrupt the cognitive processing of spoken language and sound, exhaust cognitive reserve, and lead to social isolation—regardless of other coexisting conditions. But when an individual has both Alzheimer’s and hearing loss, many of the symptoms of hearing loss can interact with those common to Alzheimer’s, making the disease more difficult than it might be if the hearing loss had been addressed.”
Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions, including impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased risk to personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension, stress, depression, and diminished psychological and overall health.
According to a study at Brandeis University, older adults with mild to moderate hearing loss expended so much cognitive energy on trying to hear accurately that it diminished their ability to remember a short word list.  As a result, their cognitive function was poorer than those individuals of the same age that had good hearing.
Studies also have shown that although a significantly higher percentage of patients with Alzheimer’s disease may have hearing loss, they are much less likely to receive attention for their hearing needs than their normally aging peers.
Research has shown that the use of hearing aids, especially in combination with appropriate aural rehabilitation in a multidisciplinary setting, has helped to reduce Alzheimer’s patients’ symptoms of depression, passivity, negativism, disorientation, anxiety, social isolation, feelings of helplessness, loss of independence and general cognitive decline.
“A comprehensive hearing assessment should be part of any Alzheimer’s diagnosis and any hearing loss should be addressed,” says Kochkin. “Most hearing loss can be managed with hearing aids. By addressing hearing loss, we can help improve quality-of-life for people with Alzheimer’s so they can live as fully as possible. These individual’s—and their families and caregivers—face many challenges. Untreated hearing loss shouldn’t have to be one of them.”

 U Penn: Hearing Aids May Help Decrease Brain Atrophy in Older Adults

Philadelphia — A new study from the University of Pennsylvania shows that declines in hearing ability may accelerate gray matter atrophy in auditory areas of the brain and increase the listening effort necessary for older adults to successfully comprehend speech. However, a hearing aid may help decrease the atrophy, as well as help hearing ability.

When a sense (taste, smell, sight, hearing, touch) is altered, the brain reorganizes and adjusts. In the case of poor hearers, the researchers found that the gray matter density of the auditory areas was lower in people with decreased hearing ability, suggesting a link between hearing ability and brain volume.

Lead author Jonathan Peelle, PhD, research associate in the Department of Neurology, explained in the press release, "As hearing ability declines with age, interventions such as hearing aids should be considered, not only to improve hearing, but [also] to preserve the brain." He added, "People hear differently, and those with even moderate hearing loss may have to work harder to understand complex sentences."

In a pair of studies, researchers measured the relationship of hearing acuity to the brain, first measuring the brain's response to increasingly complex sentences and then measuring cortical brain volume in the auditory cortex. Older adults (60-77 years of age) with normal hearing for their age were evaluated to determine whether normal variations in hearing ability impacted the structure or function of the network of areas in the brain supporting speech comprehension.

The studies found that people with hearing loss showed less brain activity on functional MRI scans when listening to complex sentences. Poorer hearers also had less gray matter in the auditory cortex, suggesting that areas of the brain related to auditory processing may show accelerated atrophy when hearing ability declines.

In general, research suggests that hearing sensitivity has cascading consequences for the neural processes supporting both perception and cognition. Although the research was conducted in older adults, the findings also have implications for younger adults, including those concerned about listening to music at loud volumes. "Your hearing ability directly affects how the brain processes sounds, including speech," says Peelle. "Preserving your hearing doesn't only protect your ears, but also helps your brain perform at its best."

The research appears in the August 31, 2011, edition of The Journal of Neuroscience and was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Physicians should monitor hearing in patients as they age, noting that individuals who still fall within normal hearing ability may have increasing complaints of speech comprehension issues. Patients should talk to their physician or an audiologist if they are experiencing any difficulty hearing or understanding speech.

SOURCE: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Hearing Aids Improve Quality of Life, Empower People with Hearing Loss to Stay Socially Active, New Study by Better Hearing Institute Finds

September 2, 2011 — According to a comprehensive research study conducted by the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), today’s technically advanced, sleekly designed hearing aids are helping people with hearing loss regain their quality of life and remain socially involved. In fact, eight out of ten hearing aid users say they are satisfied with the changes that have occurred in their lives specifically due to their hearing aids. And 82 percent of hearing aid users would recommend hearing aids to their friends.

The findings of this nationally representative survey are both timely and encouraging—particularly given that an increasing number of Americans are suffering from noise-induced hearing loss at increasingly younger ages, oftentimes many years before retirement and even as early as their teens.

“This survey clearly reveals how dramatically people’s lives can improve with the use of hearing aids,” says Sergei Kochkin, PhD, BHI’s Executive Director. "In this comprehensive study of more than 2,000 hearing aid users, we looked at 14 specific quality-of-life issues and found that today’s hearing aids are a tremendous asset to people with even mild hearing loss who want to remain active and socially engaged throughout their lives.” 

The improvements that people saw in their quality of life as a result of their use of hearings aids were broad and varied. Nearly 70 percent of hearing aid users said their ability to communicate effectively in most situations improved because of their hearing aid. A little more than half said their hearing aids improved their relationships at home, their social life, and their ability to join in groups. And roughly forty percent noted improvements in their sense of safety, self-confidence, feelings about self, sense of independence, and work relationships. Between 25 and 33 percent of hearing aid users said they even saw improvements in their romance, sense of humor, cognitive skills, and mental, emotional, and physical health.

According to Kochkin, outdated notions about hearing aids pose a significant barrier that inhibits people from addressing their hearing loss. All told, public perception of hearing aids hasn’t kept pace with the new technologies and discreet designs of today’s modern devices. And unfortunately, these misperceptions are holding people back from improving their quality of life by addressing their hearing loss.

The BHI study bears out that 79 percent of people who do seek help and use hearing aids are satisfied with them, and 86 percent are satisfied with the benefit they derive from hearing aid usage.

What’s more, as hearing aid technologies advance, individuals are becoming even more satisfied. Consumers, for example, are more satisfied with mini-BTEs than ever before and report superior sound quality, cosmetics, and functionality in more listening situations. In fact, in recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids because they have become miniaturized and nearly invisible due to the fact that an ear-mold is no longer necessary.

Ninety-one percent of all hearing aid users surveyed are satisfied with the ability of their hearing aids to improve communication in one-on-one situations. And more than three in four are satisfied in small groups (85%), while watching television (80%), outdoors (78%), during leisure activities (78%), while shopping (77%), and while riding in a car (77%).
“Today’s hearing aids are about staying young, not growing old,” Kochkin explains. “People want to hold onto their vitality as they enter and move through middle-age. But when someone ignores a hearing loss—which oftentimes has progressed gradually over time as a result of repeated noise exposure—that individual unwittingly begins losing the very vitality they treasure. What this research shows, however, is that those who do face their hearing loss and use hearing aids are experiencing significant and satisfying improvements in their quality of life.”

Another important take-away from the study is that benefit received from the hearing aid, and quality of life improvements, were highly related to the quality of care provided by the hearing healthcare professional. Ideally, hearing health professionals will include testing in a sound booth; use probe microphones to verify the hearing aid fit; use an array of counseling tools to help people hear better and adapt to their hearing aids; and validate improvement in hearing associated with hearing aid use. To help consumers in purchasing hearing aids, and to guide them in what to look for in quality hearing healthcare, BHI has published a comprehensive publication entitled, "Your Guide to Buying Hearing Aids," which is available at www.betterhearing.org, within the “Hearing Loss Treatments" section under hearing aids.

The four-part BHI survey used the National Family Opinion Panel to assess consumer perceptions of the functionality of modern hearing aids; compared the new invisible mini-BTE hearing aids to traditional style hearing aids; asked respondents to share how their lives changed as a result of their hearing aids; and evaluated the role the hearing healthcare professional had on consumer success with hearing aids.

“If you want to keep your mind sharp and life complete, don’t leave hearing loss unaddressed,” Kochkin advises. “Protect your vitality and quality of life before they silently slip away and you find yourself isolated from the human experience.  The first step to preserving your future enjoyment in life is to make an appointment with a hearing health professional and get your hearing checked. Our research shows that millions are glad they did.”

Hearing Aid Compatible Cell Phones - 2nd edition
August 29, 2011 - From the Better Hearing Institute

 There are now close to 125 cell phones with the highest M4/T4 hearing aid compatibility rating. The good news is Apple's iPhone 4 now has the M4/T4 rating.
As a service to hearing aid owners and hearing healthcare professionals we have created a permanent page on the BHI website with all compatible cell phones (M4/T4 only) with hyperlinks to www.phonescoop.com enabling the consumer to further research the features of each cell phone as well as to discern the service providers for each cell phone model.
Hearing healthcare professionals are encouraged to print the M4/T4 cell phone page as a handout for their patients. While we cannot guarantee every one of these cell phones will work optimally with all hearing aid models, at least the consumer has a good starting point in shopping for a cell phone.
One hearing aid user wrote us with another tip on how to purchase a cell phone. When the hearing aid user has identified the desired M4/T4 cell phone, they should have a normal hearing family member call on the phone from the retail outlet if possible. If the sound is clear to the normal hearing person it should work for the hearing aid user.

National Men's Health Week - June 13 - June 19, 2011

June 8, 2011 — West Newton Hearing Center is joining the Better Hearing Institute (BHI)  in urging America’s dads, granddads—and all men in the Newton community—to take the online hearing check, Across America Hearing Check Challenge, during National Men’s Health Week, which starts on June 13 and runs through Father’s Day, June 19. By visiting www.hearingcheck.org, anyone can quickly assess if they may have a hearing loss and need a more comprehensive hearing evaluation by a hearing professional. West Newton Hearing Center’s efforts are focused on underscoring the integral importance of hearing health to men’s whole health.

“Men are often reluctant to make time for their own health and especially to address their hearing health,” says Deborah Guthermann, Audiologist and owner of the Center. “But what many don’t realize is that hearing health is an important part of overall wellness and quality of life. It affects everything from relationships, to job performance and earnings, to intimacy. Unfortunately, most doctors don’t routinely ask their patients if they have any hearing problems. And that’s why we’re calling attention to men’s hearing health today.”

Sixty percent of the 34 million people with hearing loss in the United States are male. And it remains one of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today. In fact, more than 15 million men in the United States suffer from unaddressed hearing loss, which often affects their quality of life and physical and emotional health. 

In a 2010 study, for example, BHI found that people with untreated hearing loss lose as much as $30,000 in income annually, depending on their degree of hearing loss. The use of hearing aids was shown to dramatically reduce the risk of income loss and unemployment. 

There are simple things men can do to protect their hearing. Listening to their iPods at no more than 50 percent maximum volume and wearing earplugs while at rock concerts, using power tools, and riding motorcycles are just a few examples.

 "It’s critical that men pay attention to their health—and not just for their own benefit, but because their wellbeing has a significant impact on the lives of others,” says Sergei Kochkin, PhD, Executive Director of BHI. "Our participation and the participation of hearing health care professionals across the country in National Men's Health Week is an important contribution we all can make to improve the quality of life for men and their families.”

 
The purpose of National Men’s Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. This week gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. For more information on National Men’s Health Week, visit www.menshealthmonth.org.

 For more information on why healthy hearing is an important part of men’s overall health and quality of life, visit www.betterhearing.org. 

SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS – May 2011

Excerpt from NIH Publication No. 01-4913

 Because hearing loss can develop over several years, most people are not aware of the extent of their hearing loss until family or friends bring it to their attention.  Even then, the problem is often ignored or explained with excuses such as fatigue or “people are mumbling”.  Recognizing a hearing loss in yourself or someone you know is the first step toward improving the situation. 

Signs of hearing loss include:

• Asking others to repeat themselves
• Misinterpreting a spoken message
• Turning up the volume levels on the television or radio
• Difficulty hearing on the telephone
• Difficulty hearing in public gatherings – concert halls, theaters, house of worship- where sound sources are far from the listener.
• Difficulty understanding conversation within a group of people.
• Avoiding group situations, where listening may be difficult or where one may feel embarrassed about misunderstanding what is being said.

 Take the “Hearing Test Survey” located on our website to determine if you should have a hearing test performed by one of our audiologists.

 

Sounding the Alarm on the Financial Dangers of Unaddressed Hearing Loss

February 18, 2011 – from the Better Hearing Institute

With Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke saying just this week that it may be several years before the unemployment rate returns to a more normal level, it’s time for hearing health professionals to make some noise within their local communities about the dramatic link between unaddressed hearing loss and earning potential.

 In BHI’s October 25th eNewsletter, we summarized the significant results of the latest MarkeTrak VIII publication: “The efficacy of hearing aids in achieving compensation equity in the workplace.” (Hearing Journal, October 2010)

 Now it’s time to organize our efforts to make our local communities aware of the financial risks associated with unaddressed hearing loss.

 According to the study, people with untreated hearing loss lose as much as $30,000 in income annually, depending on their degree of hearing loss. And the cost to society is estimated to be as high as $26 billion in unrealized federal taxes.

 Use of hearing aids was shown to reduce the risk of income loss by 90 to 100 percent for those with milder hearing loss, and from 65 to 77 percent for those with severe to moderate hearing loss.

 The loss in income for people with untreated hearing loss due to underemployment is estimated at $176 billion. And there is a strong relationship between the degree of hearing loss and unemployment for those who do not use hearing aids. Those with severe hearing loss had unemployment rates (15.6%) double that of the normal-hearing population (7.8%), and nearly double that of their peers (8.3%) who use hearing aids. 

Now, more than ever before, with U.S. unemployment rates at a steady high, and economic recovery slow, we need to get out and inform our communities of the positive impact people can have on their own economic circumstances and quality of life—simply by identifying and appropriately addressing hearing loss. 

Treating hearing loss early is critical for optimal job performance and career success. And maximizing one’s ability to hear well should be part of any smart career strategy.

How an employee is perceived by employers is effected by how he or she hears. Employees who aren't sure what an employer is asking can't answer their best. The ability to hear and listen well enables employees to be more productive. They are better able to understand the work that has been assigned and the expectations that have been set. And people who both hear and listen well are more likely to establish positive working relationships with bosses, clients, and colleagues. 

Unaddressed hearing loss is causing families added financial strain, and most don’t even realize it. With the data from this study—and your help in spreading the word—we’re hoping people will listen and take action to help themselves. Below are a number of materials we strongly encourage you to share with your patients, local media, and greater community:

Customizable local press release for getting the word out and promoting your practice.

A factsheet on the connection between unaddressed hearing loss, income, and job performance to share with your patients.

A one page flyer for either the media or patients.

An OpEd article on the latest income study for use in your own newsletters, on your web site, or with your local media: “Making Yourself Marketable – Hearing Better May Mean Earning More.”

Material to share in your corporate outreach with local HR executives.

 

Hearing Aids - An Unexpected Way to Improve Your Sex Life

Sergei Kochkin, Ph.D., Executive Director, Better Hearing Institute, Alexandria, VA 

You’ve read the books on romance. You’ve devoted time and attention to improving your sex life. But you are probably ignoring a small electronic device that could really light a fire in your intimate relationships. You don’t need to search for it in disreputable stores or web sites.

It’s a hearing aid, and you can get one if you make an appointment with a doctor or a hearing health professional.

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans Baby Boomers (aged between 41 and 59) and 1 out of 14 Gen-Xers (29-40) now have hearing loss, according to research by the Better Hearing Institute. But only 1 out of 4 of them wear hearing aids. They are passing up a tool that research shows will not only boost their self-esteem and reduce anxiety; it may well make their sex lives more fulfilling.

Sexologists and couples therapists tell us that the best aphrodisiac in the world is effective communication. You don’t need to be an expert on intimacy to understand that when two partners –or would-be partners-- are at a romantic, candle-lit dinner and one has to shout across the table in order to be heard, it isn’t exactly setting a mood for lovemaking.

But the impact of even mild hearing loss on relationships is usually more subtle. It can make a date partner seem remote and unresponsive, when in fact he or she just might be failing to hear certain key phrases or missing the subtle nuances of conversations. He or she will feel rejected when in fact he or she very much wants to be close to her or him. That is not the kind of date that is conducive to intimacy. The same problem often haunts couples in long-term relationships when one of them develops hearing problems but refuses to acknowledge or deal with them.

"It’s hard to feel romantic and attracted to someone who never seems to listen. But that’s how someone with untreated hearing loss often comes across," says Dr. Fred Piercy, a couples therapist in Blacksburg, Virginia. His wife Susan is an audiologist who wears a hearing aid.

But when the Piercys treat an unhappy couple that includes someone with untreated hearing loss, and that person gets a hearing aid, it often helps the spark to return to the relationship, both in and out of bed. You might even think of a hearing aid as Viagra for the ears!

Sex often depends upon the right atmosphere, the proper build-up to get one or both partners in the mood. If you or your partner has trouble hearing, a hearing aid can help make sure that romantic cues are picked up and that sweet nothings whispered in the ear are heard. Even something as routine as listening to music together, which is the prelude to sex for some couples, becomes much easier.

Many people think hearing aids will make them look older and less attractive. But they have an out-dated view of what modern hearing aids look like. Some are nearly invisible and fit in the ear canal or are very inconspicuous. Some can even be flaunted –manufacturers have begun to come up with hearing aids that are veritable fashion statements, in different colors and sleek designs. There is just no excuse to permit an obsolete stigma to stop you from treating your hearing problem. You’ll be much sexier if you do something about it. [via betterhearing.org]

Myths about Hearing Loss

September 20, 2010

Having trouble hearing? Listen to the truth behind hearing loss myths

(ARA) – Sure, you sometimes have to ask people to repeat themselves, and the volume knob on the car stereo is set much farther to the right than it used to be. But you can’t be experiencing hearing loss – you’re not a senior citizen. Hearing loss only affects the old, right?

Not necessarily. “Only 40 percent of people with hearing loss are older than 64,” says Dr. Sergei Kochkin, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute in Washington, D.C. “The largest age group with hearing loss is people between 18 and 64 – about 19 million people compared to 14 million at retirement age. More than 1 million school-age children have hearing problems, as well.”

The idea that hearing loss only happens to the aged – and is an unavoidable circumstance of aging – is just one of many commonly believed myths about the issue. The truth is that hearing loss affects all age groups. If you want to avoid hearing loss, it pays to know the truth behind the myths and the basics of hearing loss prevention.

Here are some common myths about hearing loss, and the truth behind the myths:

Myth: If I had hearing loss, my family doctor would have told me.

Truth: Only 15 percent of doctors routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical exam. Even when a doctor does screen for hearing problems, the results may be suspect since most people with hearing problems hear pretty well in quiet environments – like a doctor’s office. Without special training on hearing loss, it may be difficult for your family doctor to even realize you have a hearing problem.

Myth: Nothing can be done about my hearing loss.

Truth: People with hearing loss in one ear, with a high-frequency hearing loss, or with nerve damage may have been told by their family doctor that nothing can be done to help. Modern technology has changed that. Now, nearly 95 percent of people with hearing loss can be helped, most with hearing aids.

Myth: Only people with serious hearing loss need hearing aids.

Truth: Your lifestyle, your need for refined hearing and the degree of your hearing loss will determine whether you need a hearing aid. If you’re in a profession that relies on your ability to discern the nuances of human conversation – such as a lawyer, teacher or group psychotherapist – even mild hearing loss can interfere with your life.

Myth: Hearing aids are big and ugly. Wearing one will make me look old or disabled.

Truth: Untreated hearing loss is far more noticeable than today’s hearing aids. If you miss the punch line of a joke, or respond inappropriately to a comment or question, people may wonder about your mental capacity. Hearing aid makers realize people are concerned about how they will look wearing a hearing aid. Today, you can find miniature hearing aids that fit totally within the ear canal or behind your ear, making them virtually invisible.

Myth: Hearing loss  is an inevitable part of growing older and there’s nothing I can do to prevent it from happening to me.

Truth: You can take steps to prevent hearing loss. Noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss; 10 million Americans have already suffered irreversible damage to their hearing from noise. Yet a third of all hearing loss could be prevented with proper ear protection. If you work in a high-risk profession, make sure your hearing is protected according to OSHA regulations, and wear hearing protection such as foam or silicone plugs or earmuffs. At home, lower the volume on the TV, radio, stereo and any device that uses earbuds or headphones. Wear ear protection while mowing the lawn or blowing leaves or snow. Buy quieter products (compare decibel ratings) and reduce the number of noisy appliances running at the same time in your home. Before taking a new medicine, be sure to ask the doctor about any possible side effects on your hearing.


Myth: I cannot afford hearing aids

Truth: There is a wide price range in hearing aids on the market just like there is for other consumer products. In addition the Angela Gibney, practice manager and billing specialist can work with you to determine whether outside funding options may be available through your health insurance or community organizations as well as payment plans. Call her at 617-332-7244 to discuss the options.
To learn more about hearing loss, treatment for hearing loss and hearing loss prevention, visit the West Newton Hearing Center online at www.newtonhearing.com.

 

Revised from Better Hearing Institute

NEWS - 4/1/2010

We are proud to announce that our receptionist, Christina Varrasso, is now a Certified Audiology Assistant having completed her coursework from Nova Southeastern University's Department of Audiology and her hands-on training with the audiologists at the West Newton Hearing Center. In addition to scheduling appointments and her other administrative duties, Christina can now help you with your hearing aids! If you need assistance with inserting your instruments, changing wax filters or if you just need them cleaned and checked, please stop in at the front desk anytime and she will be happy to help you out. Christina's long term goal is to become a licensed audiologist and she would love the experience!

 Want a Better Listener? Protect Those Ears

By JOYCE COHEN